Parantac nails Phl first medal in world wushu

ANKARA, Turkey – Young tai chi master Daniel Parantac nailed the Philippines’ first medal, and five of eight sanda quarterfinalists on Wednesday barged into the elite round of four of the 11th Wushu World Championships.

 In a field of 35 bidders, Parantac, 20, turned in a bronze medal with a 9.71 performance in the taiji jian (tai chi with sword) event of taolu late Tuesday night (3 a.m. Wednesday Manila time) behind the 9.72 of Malaysia’s Jack Chang Loh and the near flawless 9.85 of tournament favorite Wu Yanan of China.

“Tough luck, I was very close to a silver finish but I’m still happy because it was a big improvemnt over my ninth place in my first world championship two years ago,” said Parantac, the most senior member of the nine-man, all-Baguio taolu squad, who was also to compete in the 36-man taiji quan event Thursday.

Drawing more determination from Parantac’s surprise feat, Mark Eddiva (65 kg), Benjie Rivera (56 kg), Mary Jane Estimar (52 kg), Rhea Mae Rifani (48 kg) and Marianne Mariano (56 kg) vowed to go all out in Thursday’s sanda semifinal.  All five are already assured of bronze medals.

Mariano worked hardest for the day and sustained a gash just below her right eyebrow in a one-sided win over American Morganett Thompson in the daytime during the round of 16.  She came back at night to conquer a game Brazilian, Ana Claudia Fatia.

“I got this injury when the American’s armor grazed by face,” said the veteran Mariano, who was so hyped she requested teammates to capture in video her next-round clash with Ekaterina Mukhortikova of Russia.

The tall and seasoned Rivera breezed past Korean Jun Youl Cha, while in a more impressive show, Eddiva unleashed a signature side kick that teammates call the “snake tongue” in the second round and took away the legs of Armenian Sasun Hayrapetyan for a knockout win.

“Even mixed martial arts fighters in Southeast Asia are familiar with the side kick of Mark because it’s as quick as a serpent’s attack,” said teammate Edward Folayang, who bowed out after one win in the 70 kg class.

Rifani, who deferred a teaching career to perfect her sport, had a difficult fight against the taller Yasmeli Areque but the Filipina managed to consistently pile up the points in two rounds while Estimar had just enough to win against a youthful Korean, Mi Gyeong Noh.

The only dark spot for the Philippines was the end of neophyte Francisco Solis’ string of good fortunes in the 60 kg category.

The 20-year-old Ilonggo, after two come-from-behind victories, finally yielded to Lim Anthony of France, who exploited the Filipino’s conspicuous lack of wrestling skills and heavy dependence on his fists that lured him to a short pro boxing career.

“His boxing skills are great but sanda is a combination of punching, kicking and wrestling so he has to learn them.  He showed good promise in his first international stint, we are not giving up on him,” said wushu federation secretary general Julian Camacho of their newest recruit.

Also on Thursday morning (2:30 pm Manila time) Jessie Aligaga (48 kgs) and Dembert Arcita (52 kgs) vie to join their teammates in the round of four when they go up against Lakshman Gunasekara of Sri Lanka and Gulshan of India respectively.

Back after a day’s rest on Thursday morning are Parantac’s older brother Denver and Thornton Sayan in the men’s nan dao.